Mosley 'knows' who set him up

Mosley has always had suspicions that the News of the World story was the product of a conspiracy by someone determined to discredit him.

However, when asked by autosport.com about if there had been any further progress in finding out more on the matter, Mosley said: "Yes. We pretty much know who it was now.

"But I am not going to do anything or say anything until I am absolutely certain. That is going to take a little bit more time."

Mosley said investigations to prove the individual's identity were ongoing, with him believing the set-up took place with a view to forcing him out of office.

"It wasn't done for fun," he said. "It was to get rid of me. I think the theory was that if that came out, I was going to resign. That is what the News of the World thought as well. They thought I would just go away and that was it."

Mosley confirmed that the individual he suspected was behind the affair is from F1, but said it may take several years for him to confirm the identity.

"It might take two or three years for various reasons," explained Mosley. "I don't care how long it takes. All sorts of other things are going to come out - there is an awful lot going on on the continent.

"We have got criminal proceedings against 17 individuals in Germany, we've got defamation actions in Germany, France and Italy. And in Italy the defamation actions are an adjunct to criminal proceedings, which of course are in the hands of prosecuting authorities.

"So it has become very much one of those things that takes a while. But we will get there."

Mosley would not rule out the possibility of sporting sanctions against the individual behind the set-up should he get the proof he needs.

"I suppose there could be, but it is speculative at the moment," he said.